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Stack n’ Whack Blocks

July 27, 2010

The past couple days I’ve been experimenting with stack n’ whack block making.

This is a simple and fast fast fast way to make blocks. The blocks below finish up at 7 1/2” square but there are instructions at the bottom if you want larger blocks like in the orange quilt. You can also make these “wonky” like in the Baby Boy Bug Quilt, just cut one side slightly smaller or larger and cut your square off center, then sew them together normally as shown below!

Start with two 8 1/2” squares.

Make a cut 2 1/2” in from each side.

Cut the center strip horizontally 2 1/2” in from the top and bottom.

Switch the center squares.

Sew the center strips back onto the new center square, right sides together and press out.

Sew the side strips onto the center strip right sides together and press out. Don’t worry about lining up the side strips as you’ll be trimming off those extra pieces anyways.

Trim off the top and bottom first, and the sides 1/4” or so until you have a square block that is 7 1/2” square.

If you want a larger block….lets say 8 1/2” finished, start with a 9 1/2” square and use the same cutting instructions and sizes. That will give you this same block as in the orange quilt….just easier. To make the same quilt with 72 blocks, start with 36 colored squares and 36 white squares, then stack n’ whack away to make it extra fast!

thanks a million for this tutorial. I love these blocks and i didn't know how to make them. you make it seem so easy that i'll try to do it soon.i share the links to my favourite tutorials in my blog, redirecting people to the blog where the tutorial was posted, so I'll add this one too.

You have so many great ideas that I want to make them all! My favorite is the circle quilt..I call it my Happy Quilt because of the bright colors. I have made one other of bright colors too..I think it is the one in the boys room. Each time I see your new ideas I want to get busy! haha I am working on a gorgeous queen size quilt I started two years ago. I love making the tops but since I hand quilt I tend to put that part off. I adore this new quilt with the circles and squares…my next project..thanks….Ur great

I used the Stack-n-Whack pattern at a Hospice quilt workshop today. The quilt top turned out great and everyone liked the effect of this simple quilt. Thank you for the great pattern. Nancy in Virginia Beach

Would there be any problem with just sewing a long strip together of pattern, solid, pattern, and then cutting it into the size of the one you have in the center? Seems like it would be much faster. But I'm a total novice quilter, so I don't know if there's a reason people don't do that…